Ghana’s home-based carrier will commence operations by the second quarter of this year, the Minister of Aviation, Joseph Kofi Adda, has said.

He said the ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ethiopian Airlines, and has already engaged other investors who have expressed interest in partnering the government to undertake the venture.

He disclosed this on Wednesday at a retreat held at Aburi in the Eastern Region for stakeholders in the aviation sector.

Mr Adda said review exercises and other concluding works would be done by the end of February this year, adding that “we hope that by the end of March, the ministry and its partners would finalise all details and start operations by flying the airline by early second quarter.”

He said the home-based carrier was part of the President’s vision for the nation, and particularly for the aviation sector, saying “he wants Ghana to become the aviation hub in the sub region.”

Mr Adda said all major activities that revolved around aviation, including the infrastructural development and quality services, would be structured to make it attractive and competitive to passengers and investors.

The minister said: “the outcome of the President’s strategic objective is to add on to the jobs that are desired for the youth,” stressing the need for a strategic roadmap to translate ideas into an action plan in a time-bound manner to ensure that the outcome further enhances the sector.

“Fundamental to achieving the goal of Ghana becoming a hub and making a significant, and sustained contribution to the national economy was an aviation policy and master plan,” he stated.

He explained that the policy and master plan required a well-thought out and coordinated plan by an aviation policy that reflected current trends and technological development.

Mr Adda also hinted that the sector would take advantage of renewable energy in order to reduce utility charges, and also embark on the Green Airports Programme (GAP), which would use solar energy for some of the lightening systems at the airport.